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South Asia Investor Review is focused on reporting, analyzing and discussing the economy and the financial markets of countries in South Asia, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. For investors looking to invest in emerging markets beyond BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), this blog is designed to help international investors looking to learn about investing in South Asia with focus on Pakistan. Riaz has another blog called Haq's Musings at http://www.riazhaq.com

Pakistan Cricket Board's $43 Million Revenue and Budget

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spends about $43 million on national and international cricket every year, according to media reports. It receives about $16.5 million a year share from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as part of the new revenue sharing model while the rest comes from Pakistan Super League (PSL) and multiple bilateral cricket series with other ICC member nations. PCB could earn significantly more if India, with its huge media market, agrees to honor its prior commitments to play bilateral series with Pakistan. PCB has threatened to sue BCCI to recover $200 million in lost revenue since 2007.

ICC Revenue Sharing:

Under a new deal announced by the International Cricket Club (ICC) after its recent board meeting in Dubai, Pakistan's PCB will receive $132 million from 2015 through 2023. India's BCCI will receive $293 million across the eight-year cycle, the ECB $143 million, Zimbabwe Cricket $94 million and the remaining seven Full Members $132 million each. Associate Members will receive total combined funding of $280 million, according to ESPN sports network.

The new, more equitable revenue sharing model will replace the "Big Three" financial model drawn up by the boards of India, England and Australia that allocated much larger revenue share to them.

As expected India is not happy with the reduction in its share of the ICC revenue to $ 293 million. While the new distribution model is not a complete rollback to the equal funding from ICC events that Full Members like Pakistan used to receive, it is considerably lower than the $440 million the BCCI stood to earn under the Big Three model. The associate members of ICC would be the biggest losers if the BCCI demand for $440 million was accepted.

India-Pakistan Series:

India, with its massive media market, generates significantly more revenue that any other national cricket team and it has not played a full bilateral series with Pakistan since 2007. PCB had signed an MoU with the BCCI officials in 2014 on the sidelines of an ICC meeting. Under the MoU, Pakistan and India were to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023 but India so far has refused to honor its commitment saying that the Modi government has not given it permission for bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan.

The BCCI has refused even to play Pakistan on neutral venues including Sri Lanka. PCB claims it has lost nearly $200 million because of India's failure to deliver. BCCI has also rejected ICC chief Shashank Manohar's offer of additional $100 million to Pakistan to cover its losses, according to India Today. PCB is now threatening to sue BCCI to recover its losses.

Pakistan Super League:

Pakistan Super League has become a significant source of revenue for PCB since its launch in 2016. The auction of the teams in 2016 generated $18.6 million for PCB in 2016, according to media reports. This year, PCB earned a profit of $2.6 million net after all the expenses of PSL's second season.

PCB Plans:

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said PCB plans to use the money for new cricket academies across the nation and to set up cricket programs at schools and universities and to sponsor cricket clubs. In addition, sports facilities like cricket pitches and grounds will be improved across the country.

Summary:

Pakistan Cricket Board seems to be achieving self-sufficiency and the wherewithal to fund the sport of cricket in Pakistan better than ever before. In addition to the money from the ICC revenue sharing, PCB is also getting a new revenue stream from the PSL to help meet its needs. It's important that the PCB follows through on its plans to support cricket programs at schools and universities and cricket clubs, and to improve sports facilities in the country.

Comments

“We [the PCB] were at loss due to the creation of Big Three in the ICC and with its abolition, Pakistan will get the [monetary] benefit of $39 million,” the PCB chief stated.

“We due to Big Three set-up suffered in many ways. For example, we were scheduled to play six [bilateral] series with India; but they backed out of the commitment due to which we suffered huge financial losses,” he added.

“With the abolition of Big Three, now the ICC will be more professional and democratic as its member countries will get equal financial benefits and representation in the Council,” said the PCB chairman.

Answering a question, Shaharyar said the Big Three set-up was adversely affecting world cricket, adding that several promises were made to Pakistan but not fulfilled which caused huge financial losses to the PCB.

“Now with the elimination of Big three from world cricket, we hope that a new era will begin in the ICC, and in Pakistan cricket,” said Shaharyar.

The New Zealand Cricket board is standing at the bottom of the list as cricket is the second popular game in the country after Rugby. Although the kiwi cricketers do earn a lot because of playing in many T20 leagues across the world, the cricket board is still struggling to earn big like other cricket boards.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)

Worth: US$ 15 million

Actually the West Indies Cricket Board is a combination of many Caribbean cricket playing nations. Since early 1900s different Caribbean countries playing as a one team and had some fantastic time on the international cricket arena from 1970s to mid 1990s but since then soccer and other American sports has taken over the imagination of the youth there. Cricket is still alive there but not as it was in the past, hence WICB is also struggling to earn lots of money. But there is a hope. Just last year a franchise based Caribbean Cricket League has been established and it has become an instant hit, hopefully that will attract more and more people to reconnect with the game.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)

Worth: US$ 20 million

The Sri Lankan team probably is one of the top most international cricket teams but the financial position of their cricket board is nothing to feel happy about. It is on the edge to say the least and surviving only on television rights mostly. The board is not even been able to pay the salaries to its cricketers and often the anger of Lankan cricketers comes out in open.

Cricket Australia (CA)

Worth 24 million

Cricket Australia is a public limited company and it is one of the richest sporting bodies in the country. With the Australian Cricket team doing consistently well and cricket still remains the focus of the people there Cricket Australia doesn’t have to worry too much about the money. With lucrative KFC T20 Bash league Cricket Australia can certainly look forward.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

Worth: US$ 55 million

Despite the country has been badly hit by terrorism, despite the team has to play their ‘home games’ outside and despite the board has been running ad hoc for last so many years, the PCB seems to be doing well on the economic front. May be because the fan following it has and hence the television rights and frequent foreign tour guarantee money are the reasons for their fair enough position.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)

Worth US$ 59 million

One of the three richest cricket boards of the world is ECB. The place where cricket was born and the following for all three styles of the game are equally popular, the earning is bound to be good. The ECB is also the inventor Twenty20 cricket and its league may not be franchise based but still very lucrative. Plus ECB has an equal say on all important cricketing matters too make a big difference.

Cricket South Africa (CSA)

Worth: US$ 69 million

Despite earning so much Cricket South Africa is spending more than what they are earning, hence they are actually making losses. They are hugely dependent on television rights and teams touring their country more frequently than not. But the team is doing good and that is a good news for them.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

Worth US$ 295 million

It seems that the BCCI has a Midas touch because whatever they do (or don’t do in a few cases) they bound to earn money and lots of them. There was a period when BCCI was not even able to pay their cricketers on time, but since India’s win of the 1983 world cup changed the fortunes of the Indian cricket. The big moment came when in 2008 the Indian Premier League or IPL started and the BCCI started to mint more money. With the passionate public behind them BCCI today even ruling the cricket world as a de facto cricketing body of the ICC.

Pakistan’s inaugural national cricket league has been an unexpected success, even though all the matches have been played in the United Arab Emirates.If all goes according to plan, PSL will generate revenues of approximately $50 million, according to cricket board estimates. A 10-year forecast sees the board making profits of $50-60 million.But the PSL has a long way to go if it wants to catch up with the likes of IPL. The 2015 Indian Premier League season earned revenues of $418 million.

Pakistan’s inaugural national cricket league has been an unexpected success, even though all the matches have been played in the United Arab Emirates due to security risks.Since the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was announced last September, the country’s cricket board has sold five franchises for $93 million and attracted players from 11 different countries.They include big names like West Indies batsman Chris Gayle and former players Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and England’s Kevin Pietersen.

The biggest surprise, however, has been the response from Pakistan’s public. The people have given the PSL more importance than the 2015 World Cup.Since matches began in the UAE on February 4, national television viewing figures have been higher than for the 2015 World Cup, with 55 percent of Pakistan’s TV-watching public tuning into the tournament at peak times.Tuesday’s final match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in Dubai is expected to attract similar figures. The match is sold out.

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If all goes according to plan, PSL will generate revenues of approximately $50 million, according to cricket board estimates. A 10-year forecast sees the board making profits of $50-60 million.Given the size of Pakistan’s potential market of 180 million people, cricket experts say it is possible to imagine the PSL becoming one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world.Despite the success of PSL’s first season, the real test for the cricket board will be if it can permanently bring the game back home.Pakistan Cricket Board officials said before the season that the ruling body approached over a hundred cricketers to ask them if they would be willing to play on Pakistani soil. Unfortunately, None of them agreed.“Next year, we hope to have at least the opening and closing PSL matches on Pakistani soil,” PSL Chairman Sethi said. “That is the dream.”

The BCCI's threats to pull the Indian team out of the Champions Trophy ended with a whimper on Sunday. Left with no choice after the Committee of Administrators told it not to adopt a confrontational approach with the ICC, the BCCI's Special General Meeting (SGM) unanimously cleared the participation of the Indian team, the event's defending champions.The meeting apparently did not began on such a conciliatory note. According to sources who were present at the SGM, former BCCI president N Srinivasan, who was representing the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, joined the meeting from London via Skype. Srinivasan suggested issuing a legal notice to the ICC to revoke the Member Participation Agreement (MPA), said the sources.At least three representatives — Abhay Apte (Maharashtra), Kapil Malhotra (Cricket Club of India) and Rajeev Shukla (Uttar Pradesh, and IPL chairman) — apparently responded that India would lose out massively in terms of revenue and could also face sanctions from the world governing body if it pulled out of the MPA.Gauging the mood of the house, Srinivasan then dropped his suggestion, said the sources. It was followed by the members even coming out of the meeting room and saying that there wasn't any talk about pulling out of the Champions Trophy.The BCCI and ICC have been at odds after ICC reduced India's revenue share from $570 million to $293 million. It was revealed to the members thro ugh the CoA that India would be lo sing around Rs 150 crore per year if BCCI's original demand to ICC was not considered. The members also understood that if India plays three to four more bilateral games in a year, it would make up the loss.

Cricket has had a remarkable rise in Afghanistan, after its first team was born, more than a decade ago, by players returning home from the dusty parks of a refugee camp in Pakistan. Now Afghanistan’s team consistently ranks in the world’s top 10.

“A very long journey, in a very short time,” said Shukrullah Atif Mashal, chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board. “I think it’s a great example, for all institutions in Afghanistan.”

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There is tremendous money in the game. The International Cricket Council, the sport’s organizing body, gives Afghanistan about $1.4 million a year, around 33 percent of the game’s overall budget, Mr. Mashal said. The rest comes from private sponsors, their willing numbers increasing with the game’s popularity.

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These days, a top national team player could make as much as $10,000 a month, with everything from salary to match fees included, according to Mr. Mashal. That is a large sum in a country where a police officer’s monthly salary is about $200. Then there are private leagues for bonus income. A player like Mr. Shafaq, for example, is paid about $1,000 for a week’s play in a private tournament like this one. Other leagues offer as much as $500 a match.

Some top Afghan players also play for the game’s largest international leagues, in Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Caribbean. The talk these days is about two players who were given contracts in the lucrative Indian Premier League, the highest private stage for the game. The Afghan teenage star Rashid Khan got a whopping $600,000 contract, and a veteran, Mohammed Nabi, received $46,000 — all for about six weeks’ play.

The Schön Group, a Dubai-based enterprise well-established in the real estate business, has won the rights to the sixth franchise of the Pakistan Super League, and chosen Multan as its team. The deal has been confirmed by the PCB, pending legal formalities, and the contract is for eight years. The Schön Group's owners have roots in Pakistan.

As many as 30 companies, according to the PCB, showed interest in the franchise, with about 12 submitting bids. Out of these bids, only Schön made a bid high enough to meet the base price of USD 5.2 million per year. The highest bidder had the right to choose the base city for the new franchise out of Multan, Faisalabad, Dera Murad Jamali, FATA and Hyderabad.

The PCB had been considering adding a sixth team to the tournament after its first season in 2016, but a contract between the PCB and the five franchises meant the expansion could take place only after the second season. The first two seasons of the PSL featured Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.

These original five franchises were sold for USD 93 million for a ten-year period. Karachi became the most expensive team with the ARY Group shelling out USD 26 million to gain ownership. Lahore sold for USD 25 million to Qatar Lubricants Company (QALCO), while the Haier Group paid USD 16 million for Peshawar. The franchise from the capital, Islamabad, went to Leonine Global Sports, which is an entity created specifically for the PSL by a group of Pakistani investors, for USD 15 million. Omar Associate, a Karachi-based building company, secured Quetta for USD 11 million.

In 2016, Najam Sethi, the PSL chairman, had floated an idea to have a Kashmir team in the tournament, but it was rejected after opposition from some of the franchises on financial grounds and the potential for controversy given Kashmir's sensitive status vis-a-vis India. The opposition from the franchises back then was centered around the potential cut in their share of the central revenue pool if a sixth franchise were to be created.

Pakistan have been hosting the PSL in the UAE due to the security concerns of the overseas players. However, in 2017, the final was played in Lahore at the Gaddafi stadium amid presidential-style security and went off without incident. Last month, Sethi revealed plans to host as many as eight matches in Pakistan in 2018, with four each to be held in Lahore and Karachi.

One of the richest families of Pakistan, Schon Group has bought the newly added Multan team in Pakistan Super League after successful bid at Pakistan Cricket Board. The Schon Group will be paying a hefty $41.6 million in a period of 8 years for this contract. This acquisition, of $5.2 million per year, turns out to be the biggest one in the history of Pakistan Super League.

Before Multan purchase, of all the PSL teams, Karachi Kings was deemed the biggest sale. It was acquired by Ary Group for $2.6 million per year for a contract spanning a decade.

The bid from Schon Group’s end was led by Asher Schon and Khizer Schon, the sons of renowned business leader from Pakistan and founder of Schon Group, Nasir Schon. Starting off in Singapore in 1982, the peak of Schon group was in 1995 when they owned National Fibres, Schon Bank, Schon Textiles and Pak-China Fertilizers.

Currently, Schon Group is managed by his two sons who look after day-to-day affairs in Dubai HQ. Khizer Schon has recently made several investments in the YCombinator’s technology startups and aims to invest in Pakistani technology businesses through their investment arm Schon Ventures. Schon Ventures is the group investment vehicle which has invested in fitness, transportation, real estate, and technology start-ups.

While speaking at the PSL auction, Asher Schon said, “We believe we have all the resources available to make this (investment) a successful venture.”

The change of captain, retirement of senior players and induction of talented youngsters into the team at the right time and age and two years of Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Dubai have all contributed.

The last changes in the side (exclusion of Wahab Riaz and Ahmad Shehzad and inclusion of Fakhar Zaman and Junaid Khan) made a difference. All of a sudden the world’s best bowling attack was born, restricting the top four teams (South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and India) to under 250. Gone were the complaints about the game being unfairly dominated by the bat, the scrutiny of bat sizes and 300 being a par score.

Before PSL, the jump from Pakistan’s first class cricket into international cricket was a huge one and many youngsters were found lacking. The PSL changed that. The bright stars of today’s Pakistan’s cricket like Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Sharjeel Khan, Ruman Raees (and many more) were already playing first class cricket in Pakistan. PSL polished them with top international players and coaches and readied them for the international arena.

Pakistan were hopeless at the start of the tournament and actually played like a number eight, which was their ranking when they came in the tournament. But their batting — often considered fragile —managed to post 338 for four with the help of a fabulous century by Fakhar Zaman who amassed 114 off 106 balls.

Zaman, who is a Mardan born and averages over 50 in 50 overs cricket, finished the tournament as he highest run getter for Pakistan after making most of his luck when he edged one off Jasprit Bumrah only to see that the bowler had overstepped.

Pakistan had gone 35 ODIs without a century stand before the semi-finals but Fakhar in partnership with Azhar Ali stitched back to back 100-run opening stands.

Pakistan’s comeback in the tournament was largely due to Fakhar’s effort at the top. It is remarkable that the left-handed opening batsman now has two 50s and a hundred in first four ODIs of his career.

India captain Virat Kohli in the press conference admitted that their plans didn’t work against Fakhar, even though the batsman was playing high risk shots.

Pakistan cricket is often termed mercurial however their four back to back wins have proved that they can be consistent performers too.

A nation that was written off before the start of the tournament managed to win hearts with the spirit of the youth.

Hasan Ali, the player of the tournament, took thirteen wickets which is joint-most with West Indies' Jerome Taylor in a one edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.

“I dedicate this victory to my mother who always fasts whenever I am playing," said Hasan after the victory.

He demonstrated an intelligent cricketing mind by using his pace variations and took regular wickets in the middle overs against South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and India.

Pakistan are often criticised for their lack of structure but have always been a team of momentum. If history is anything to go by their wins in tournaments have come at the back of peaking at the right time.

Junaid got eight wickets in the tournament and proved to be a great new ball user along with Mohammad Amir. He also played a vital role in the middle over by giving breakthroughs and containing runs.

Ahmed Shehzad, who is looking a completely different batsman from what he was four years ago, was replaced by Zaman.

Zaman was streaky in the beginning against India with a lot of top edges but overcame his troubles to played a brave knock. He became the first Pakistan batsman to score 100 in the final of an ICC event.

The left-hander was previously part of the Pakistan Navy. He has taken a liking to left arm spinners and as a first class player demonstrated his command over them when he smashed Ravindera Jadeja to all parts of the ground.

India will receive almost a quarter of the total cash handed out by cricket's world governing body after challenging initial attempts to reduce their share.

The BCCI will receive $405m (£319m) over the cycle of 2016 to 2023 - three times more than England's $139m (£110m), the second largest share.

The International Cricket Council's board had voted 13-1 in favour of India being allocated $293m (£227m) in April.

That led to reports India were planning to boycott the Champions Trophy.

After the vote - on proposals for a new financial model intended to redistribute revenue more equally - the BCCI missed the deadline to name a squad for the tournament.

A team was later selected, with India eventually losing in the final to Pakistan, but a BCCI statement explaining the delay said its secretary Amitabh Choudhary would continue to negotiate with the ICC, adding that it was "keeping its legal options open".

The changes to the ICC's revenue distribution model, ratified by its full council on Thursday, will see South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand and West Indies receive $128m (£101m) each, while Zimbabwe will receive $94m (£74m).

Ireland and Afghanistan, who on Thursday were granted Test status, will share $240m (£189m) of funding with the ICC's associate members.

Analysis

by BBC sports news correspondent Joe Wilson

There is a logic in some circles of Indian cricket which runs; 'if we generate 70% of income in the global game, shouldn't we get 70% of the revenue?'

It's an argument the ICC has had to confront, keeping India on board while trying to ensure some equity in financial distribution. After all, it is a global game (even if India - and the IPL in particular - is in a world of its own with a global marketplace within its own borders).

Thus it was back in April that the ICC board voted in a financial package that saw India take $293m over the next cycle. Discontent followed, as did mutterings of not participating in the Champions Trophy.

Now the compromise gives them $405m, which is significantly more, but nowhere near the figure approaching $600m hardliners may have wanted. Where does the extra money to distribute to India come from? After all, the ICC now has two new full members to fund.

Well, Ireland and Afghanistan will see their income increased dramatically but will still be a long way behind Zimbabwe. If not in cricketing terms, then in finances.

The Pakistan Cricket Board successfully completed the third edition of the Pakistan Super League with the eliminator and the finals of the tournament in two cities of Pakistan. Through the Pakistan Super League, the PCB is trying to bring back cricket to its soil which has been stranded ever since the attack on Sri Lankan players.

Najam Sethi, the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says that the tournament has been a massive success and the board is expecting to earn a revenue of around five million US dollars. Sethi was speaking to media after attending a meeting said that the third edition was bigger and better. According to Sethi while the 2nd edition brought them $2 million, the 3rd edition will give them around $5 million profit. “This time around [in the third edition], we are expecting over five million dollars as profit,” said the PCB chief.

Most matches of PSL 4 will be held in Pakistan: SethiSethi has already announced that most of the matches of the 4th edition of the tournament will be held in Pakistan. “You should trust me. I do what I say. Have finished one good news and am now giving the second,” he had said ahead of the PSL 2 final in Karachi.

He also talked about the ongoing tussle with BCCI and said that they have already initiated the process of dispute resolution against the BCCI and they’re hoping to get it resolved soon. ICC has already created a 3-member bench to look into the matter.

Sethi also spoke about the selection of the Pakistani squad for the tour of Ireland and England. The cricket fans in Pakistan are venting their anger over the exclusion of Fawad Alam from the squad. Sethi said that he never interferes in the selection process. He said that selection committee is fully independent and they have professionals to take correct decisions.

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I am the Founder and President of PakAlumni Worldwide, a global social network for Pakistanis, South Asians and their friends. I also served as Chairman of the NEDians Convention 2007. In addition to being a South Asia watcher, an investor, business consultant and avid follower of the world financial markets, I have more than 25 years experience in the hi-tech industry. I have been on the faculties of Rutgers University and NED Engineering University and cofounded two high-tech startups, Cautella, Inc. and DynArray Corp and managed multi-million dollar P&Ls. I am a pioneer of the PC and mobile businesses and I have held senior management positions in hardware and software development of Intel’s microprocessor product line from 8086 to Pentium processors. My experience includes senior roles in marketing, engineering and business management. I was recognized as “Person of the Year” by PC Magazine for my contribution to 80386 program. I have an MS degree in Electrical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
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